Ogle County is sued again over BV wind farm

Ogle County State's Attorney John B. "Ben" Roe had some unpleasant news for the county board Tuesday.

They are being sued — again — over the Baileyville Wind Farm.

Roe said the lawsuit was filed in federal court in Rockford by attorney Mark Muscarello, who has filed previous lawsuits against the county over the wind farm in both state and federal courts.

Roe said this lawsuit was filed in response to the county board's decision Aug. 21 to grant a special use permit to allow the installation of underground cables on 319 acres at 12294 N. Rock City Rd. in Maryland Township, owned by John and Dawn Collman and leased to the wind farm.

The cables will connect to wind turbines once they are built.

The permit was controversial and prompted a great deal of discussion before its approval in August. It passed by a vote of 11-9.

Nearly seven years ago, on Dec. 20, 2005, the Ogle County Board granted Navitas-Gamesa officials the special use permit needed to build the Baileyville Wind Farm.

However, Muscarello and other opponents of the wind farm almost immediately filed lawsuits in both Ogle County and federal courts, blocking the project for several years.

The lawsuits were settled last year, allowing the project to proceed. The special use permit granted in 2005 remains valid.

Apex Wind Energy, based in Charlottesville, Va., bought the wind farm from Navitas-Gamesa in 2011.

The plan approved by the county board in 2005 called for 40 windmills to be built over 5,000 acres in Maryland and Leaf River Townships.

The wind towers are to be 400 feet tall and each built on a 16-foot concrete base.